Religion
'Religion a catalyst for sustainable development'
New Delhi, Feb 7
Describing faith as a
"catalyst", religious leaders Saturday said it could inspire people to
change their perspective on environment and prioritize sustainable
development.
"The greatest catalyst for change in thought and
behaviour is our faith... the drive toward sustainable development and
mitigating climate change needs to be not only top-down, it also needs
to be bottom-up," Divine Shakti Foundation president Sadhvi Bhagawati
Saraswati said at the valedictory session of the 15th Delhi Sustainable
Development Summit (DSDS), organised by The Energy and Resource
Institute (TERI) here.
"It needs to be a movement catalyzed by
change in thought and change in behaviour by the people. We need
information, inspiration and implementation," he added.
Invoking
the Indian tradition of "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" (the world is one
family), Global Interfaith WASH Alliance co-founder Swami Chidanand
Saraswati said: "One of the major behaviour changes that we can make to
encourage and inspire sustainable development is to change our vision of
the world from a bazaar to a 'parivar (family)'."
"With that
spirit of a family we must all work towards and attend to the needs of
our future generations," he added, urging people to act for a planet
that is "devastated by massive deforestation, unsustainable, unplanned
development, polluted air and rivers, and toxic fruits and vegetables".
"...There
can be a plan A, plan B but there cannot be a planet B and therefore
we all have to come together, to work together to be and do the
change."
Over the past 14 years, the DSDS has been serving as an
annual platform to discuss issues of sustainability and relevant policy
interventions to ensure a sustainable future.
Themed as
"Sustainable Development Goals and Dealing with Climate Change", the
15th edition of the summit brought together former governor of
California Arnold Schwarzenegger, TERI director general and chairman of
the UN Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change R.K. Pachuri as well
as other dignitaries and environment enthusiasts from across the world.